DIOGENES OF TODAY

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 711, 10 July 1929, Page 15

DIOGENES OF TODAY

BATH, NOT TUB, HIS HOME Following the example o£ Diogenes, who established his home in a barrel, a man o£ Ransart, near Charleroi, in Northern France, has been living in a bath for the last three years. His name is Valentin Lepage, and he used to be employed in a local glass factory. Having met with an accident some three years ago, he had to leave work, and since then he has been doing odd jobs on neighbouring farms. Finding himself without a home when he left hospital, Lepage obtained permission to erect a small tent in a field. In the tent he placed an old bath, and turned it into a bed. The bath is the only piece of furniture In the home of this modern Diogenes, who has become an attraction for tourists in the district.

“But Mike,” protested his friend of the road, “it’s no good trying to make a pillow out of a drain-pipe. It’ll be divilish hard.” “Sure, an’ wot d’ ye tek me fer,” answered Mike. “If ye’d waited a minute. ye’d av seen I was goin’ to fill it with straw-.”